Chapter 196

Running away? Of course, that's impossible.

With a restless heart,

the Straw Hat crew was called by Lei Li back to the new council hall, and the two groups stared at each other in silence.

Only...

Lei Li: (*≧▽≦)ツ

Sima Di: (*≧▽≦)ツ

The old man and the youngster laughed in "silent mode"—we just laughed without making a sound.

The Straw Hat crew laughed till they were trembling with fright, and the Whitebeard crew laughed with gloomy faces.

The atmosphere fell into a deathly stillness.

It wasn't until Sima Di had finally laughed enough that he finally pulled his smile back a little.

Meeting the death-stares of the Whitebeard crew, he didn't mind at all—this was the boldness that came with strength.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem! Well then..." Sima Di chuckled: "I warned you long ago, anyone without a problem should step aside, or else you'll be embarrassed and others will be embarrassed too. You just wouldn't listen!"

Whitebeard crew: "......"

Who knew the "side effects" you mentioned would be this outrageous?

Other people's side effects are things like life force overdraft, soul damage, or even being half-crippled or half-paralyzed.

But you—

You just went straight and gave them psychological trauma!

"Let's not talk about the past." Whitebeard said in a muffled voice: "Your healing ability is indeed impressive. Although I'm not fully recovered yet, it's enough for me to fight at my peak. This time we'll definitely give Sengoku and the others a big surprise!"

Even though it was news that should have been celebrated, none of Whitebeard's many children made a move.

It's really...

They don't want to recall that unbearable scene!

"Regardless, the Whitebeard crew accepts this favor." Marco said in a deep voice: "If you need anything in the future, come find me. If I can help, I definitely will."

The others remained in deep silence.

Like dead puppets—though their bodies stood here, their souls had already gone numb...

Tch!

Looks like what they just went through will probably take them a lifetime to heal from.

How about...

Try fighting poison with poison?

Use another Appraisal Technique—maybe it'll have a miraculous effect!

But he only thought about it for a moment,

and Sima Di tossed this suicidal idea out of his mind.

He asked: "What's your battle plan?"

The two pirate crews shared the same objective, and there was also the prior favor of healing Whitebeard.

So Marco didn't hide anything either.

He said directly: "The Marines will definitely set an ambush at Marineford, and the outer defenses will surely be impregnable. I plan to have the main force draw fire from the front, while the Moby Dick will be coated and advance from underwater, cutting straight into the heart of the Marine formation. Destroying them from the inside will definitely be much easier."

"Then look for a chance during the battle to rescue Ace."

The same plan as in the original.

Because they didn't know the specific layout of Marineford, they couldn't plan in detail, but this plan could still be called a brilliant scheme—as could be seen from how the Marines were caught off guard and slaughtered in the original.

However...

Sima Di knows the exact layout!

The execution platform is at the far rear of the Marine formation. Following this plan, they'd almost have to cut through the entire Marine force to rescue Ace.

The casualties would be terrible.

He had already thought up a new battle plan on the way here.

He immediately laid out his entire plan.

"I think... like this... and also... this... that... then this..."

Everyone who heard it showed looks of surprise!

Marco was even more sincerely convinced: "Old man, I request that this battle plan be handed over to Sima Di!"

Marco, who was also a smart man,

usually served as the "brain" of the Whitebeard crew.

This was just like how, if Sima Di said to hand the command to someone else, the Straw Hat crew would be extremely surprised.

To make Marco willingly follow orders...

The Whitebeard crew couldn't help but reassess Sima Di.

"Kid Di, you can repel Admiral Huang Yuan, and now even your schemes have Marco in awe... how about becoming my son?" Whitebeard issued an invitation to be his son.

True to form, this is the Whitebeard who recognizes sons everywhere.

The Straw Hat crew couldn't help but tense up at this!

This is a chance to directly become a member of a Yonko crew!

What will Sima Di choose?

Unfortunately...

Sima Di clearly had no intention of gaining another father.

So,

He shook his head without hesitation. "Whitebeard's Pirate Crew already has Marco. If I went over, I'd just be gilding the lily. I'm doing fine staying with the Straw Hat Pirate Crew — I have no thoughts of jumping ship."

"Gurararara — what a shame, then." Whitebeard took a fierce swig of hard liquor and promised, "Straw Hat Pirate Crew — Whitebeard's Pirate Crew will always leave its doors open to you. Come anytime, you're welcome!"

Well then!

Can't poach Sima Di, so they want to poach the entire Straw Hat Pirate Crew?

As long as everyone around Sima Di is poached away, can Sima Di still get away?

Except......

Whitebeard clearly underestimated the Straw Hat Pirate Crew's cohesion!

"Don't be ridiculous — I'm the man who's going to be King of the Pirates. There's no way I'd ever be somebody else's son!" Luffy said bluntly.

"The Four Emperors...... we just might be able to do it." Zoro was brimming with confidence.

"Without me, this crew probably couldn't even set out to sea." Nami hummed.

Even Usopp stated his position decisively — wherever the Going Merry was, there he would be.

"Hahahaha — Whitebeard, forget it. These youngsters are even more outstanding than Luo Jie's lot back in the day. They're not ones you can win over." Crocus roared with laughter.

"Gurararara — then I'll just have to look forward to the birth of a new Pirate King crew!" Whitebeard, far from angry, was delighted.

The treasure Luo Jie left behind......

At last, someone who came after could inherit it!

Hearing Whitebeard say this, Sima Di struck while the iron was hot.

"The red Road Poneglyph original of Fish-Man Island — it should have been offered to you, right? Could you let us take a look?"

"No problem!" Whitebeard said without hesitation. "But that Poneglyph original is in the New World. Come take a look yourselves when you get there."

"Then thanks in advance." Sima Di smiled.

The red Road Poneglyph original......

Wonder what kind of reward it will give?

It should be better than an ordinary Poneglyph original, right?

A little excited!

Speaking of which......

Fish-Man Island still has an ordinary Poneglyph original here — we can go sign in there too.

"Since the plan is already set, let's leave it here for now." Sima Di said. "Notify us before we set out. We're leaving first."

He took Robin's hand and walked off at once.

That easy grace made Usopp and the others quite envious, but they wouldn't dare do the same.

Leaving the council hall,